Unaltered Cell Proliferation Rate of the Ataxia Telangiectasia Lymphocytes Dividing in Vitro

Abstract

Lower cell density was found in cultures of ataxia telangiectasia lymphocytes as compared to control lymphocyte cultures. This fits with the earlier observations of decreased incorporation of ³H-Thymidine into lymphocytes of ataxia telangiectasia (AT) patients. However, the finding that there was no significant difference in proliferation rate index between AT and control cultures was unexpected. This may indicate that both cell count and measurements of thymidine incorporation in lymphocyte cultures characterize cell populations distinct from that of proliferating cells.